Vanity case



May 11, 1948. B. WESSON ETAL VANITY CASE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 4, 1946 M x E SW p WM MW E 5 NA THAN KUPIN May 11, 1 I B. WESSON ETAL v VANITY CASE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 4, 1946 INVENTOIRS BERNARD wsssom NATHAN [(UPIN I TOR Y Patented May 11, 1948 VANITY CASE Bernard Wesson, Beechhurst, Long Island, and NathanKupin, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application March 4, 1946; Serial No. 651,838

7 Claims. (Cl. 1 32 -193) Our present invention relates-generally to vanity cases, and more particularly to a novel vanity case provided with a slidable flexible closure.

Roll-top,- or roller" cover, vanity cases of various typesliave beenprovided in the past. It has been foundby experience that a-commercial and practical vanity case of this type must possess certain mechanical and operational'features. These features wehave provided in our resent novel device. Moreover, the roller cover and its associated elements-must be engineered so that manufacture and assembly will be simple and ,economical.

- important object of our present invention isto provide a rolltop, or roller cover, type vanity cas'e'provided with a rigid mirror plate which is pivoted atoneend thereof to the cover whereby the mirror plate is adaptedto be independently swung into viewing position without shifting the cover into open position.

Another important object of our present inventioh-is' to provide a simple and effective means for maintaining the rigid actuator plate of a flexible closure type compact inclosed position.

.Still another important object of our present invention is to provide apivoted mirror for a vanity case which is adapted to swing into vertical viewing'position below the plane of the vanity case: powder receptacle when the receptacle is in when" condition.

A specific object of our inventionis" to provide a s'llda'ble fleiilbleclosure for a vanity case whose construction is essentially that of a flexible car rierprovideo with a plurality of adiacent lateral strips securedthereto.

A further object ofthis invention is: to provide a mirror plate-for a vanity case, wherein the plate is retained in non-viewing horizontal posi' tion against the lower face of the case by a pair of opposed projections or lugs retained in respective recesses.

"Still otherieatures and objects of our invention will best he understood by reference to the following: description and to the accompanying drawings which disclose a preferred embodiment of the vanity case, it beingunderstood, however, that the description and drawing are to be conside'red as illustrative of the invention and not in limitation thereof. -In thedrawing's: "Fig. 1 is a plan view of the vanity case, the mirror plate being moved to open pos t n;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view along line 22 of Fig. Lie-taking in the direction of the arrows;

- Fig. 3- 'is a front end view of the vanity case as the plate-partially lmlle'd' forward:-

2. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the vanity case-in fully open position; '7- is a fragmentary end view of a detailqof the coupling between the flexible closure and mirror plate;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the flexible cover strips; and

Fig. 9 isa perspective view or the-vanity casein completely unassembled form, the several component parts being depleted: in corresponding re-- lation for assembly.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters in'the several figures denote similar elements, attention is first directedto Fig. 9 which shOWs the vanity case, or compact, disassembled into its component parts. indeed, the elements or components of Fig. 9 are simply assembled, in the manner indicated in the other figures, to provi'de the complete vanity case shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Essentially there: is provided a powder receptacle, container or compartment whose exterior side walls are adapted to have secured thereto, as by screws I", respec' tive shells or casings 2 and 3-. Thelatter functionto provide oppose-d upper and lower grooves, or guides, for a flexible closure 4- of the roll-top, or roller cover, type. The inner endof closure: 4 is pivotally coupled toarigid plate 5- which functions as an actuating member for the closure 4;. and as a carrier for a mirror 6. The treeend of plate 5 is provided with projections or stops I. Finally; there is provided a cover 8 for the resepta-ole l, the cover being"- provided with a spring" hinge"- 9 so that upon retraction of flexible closure: l" the cover 8 will automatically assume an open position.

Reference is now made to' Figs. 1 to.4, 7 and 8 for a detailed description of the several el'e ments of the main components, while Figs; 5 and 6o tridi ngrorward over the-iupper-face recover-8.. Y

6 will be referred to in explaining the operation of thevanity case. The metal receptacle I; shown in Fig. 2, has a flat base which generally tapers forwardly since its upper surface has con vex curvature. The receptacle is provided with a; powder storage space it of rectangular shape; The receptacle 1 is, further, provided with a.rectangular ledge or shelf for seating the metallic cover- 2. The forward shelf section it seats the free end of cover 8,Whi1e the rear ledge it seats the pivot end of cover 8.

As shown in Fig. 9, the rearend of cover-'84s provided with opposed pivot pins 1 2 and l2" which are received in respective openings in the opposite sidewalls of ledge H. The biasing spring 9' is arranged to cause the cover 8 normally to be biased to openposition; as shown in Fig.' 6. The cover 3, it will be noted, is given a degree of convex curvature (Fig; 2) such that it-is readily moved downward. to closed position by the cover" threaded for that reason. Shells or casings 2 and 3 are provided with respective spaced bores M and I5, which receive the ends of screws I' thereby to provide means for fixedly securing the casings 2 and 3 to the respective longitudinal faces of receptacle l. Of course, the composition of the casings 2 and 3 can be of any suitable metal, base or precious. Further there may be employed any desired and suitable means for securing the casings 2 'and-3 in position as shown in Fig, 6. After the casings have been secured in place, a polishing step can be employed to cause the outer face of the same to appear smooth and unbroken as in Figs. 5 and 6.

Each of casings 2 and 3 is generally of the same configuration as the respective side walls of receptacle 1. Each casing has a relatively narrow peripheral flange. Thus, flanges 2' and 3' fit over the side faces of the receptacle l in the form of caps or covers. The forward sectio of flanges 2' and 3' are provided with respective square notches l3" and M". The latter function to'support lugs, or stops, 1 in completely closed position of flexible closure 4 (Fig. 3). The flanges 2' and 3' are spaced from the respective upper, rear and lower faces of receptacle I to provide guides, or grooves, for the flexible closure.

In Fig. 2 there is shown the clearance or spacing provided between the peripheral flange-3' and the outer surfaces of receptacle l. The numeral l5 denotes the top groove or track, while l6 denotes the bottom track, The top and bottom tracks are common-at the rear of the receptacle I It will be understood that a similar peripheral track or groove is provided between flange 2 and the receptacle I. These spaced peripheral tracks or grooves permit the flexible closure 4 to be drawn rearward, or to be pushed forward, in response to motion of the rigid actuator plate 5,

While the casings 2 and 3 primarily provide the peripheral grooves for the flexible closure and theforward retaining notches for stops 1, 1, yet

they'also furnish a means for providing trim and finished side wall facings for the compact. For example, if the casings 2 and 3 are made of a suitable metallic tone or finish, decorative effects may readily be supplied.

The flexible closure 4 and its associated actuator plate 5 are shown in detail in Fig. 9. The rear edges of the two elements, it will be noted, are hingedly coupled together. The lower face of the vanity case is shown in Fig. 4, and reveals the metallic plate 5 as being generally rectangular in shape.

The rigid metallic plate 5 does not have its opposed longitudinal edges 5' adapted to ride within the tracks or grooves l5. As shown at Fig. 5, the edges 5 just clear the inner edges of the casings 2 and 3. Hence, it is only by virtue of lugs, or stops, 1, I that plate 5 may be retained in flat or horizontal position in contact with the lower face of receptacle 1. This is the case in Figs. 3 and 4, where the lugs or stops 1, 1 are seated in the respective notches I3" and M" of casings 2 and 3.

Preferably, we provide the forward end ofplate 5, on the lower face thereof, with a gripping, or pull, piece 20 whichis integral with the plate.

The gripping member 20 may be of any shape adapted to facilitate actuating the plate 5. The rear hinge 2| may be of any suitable construction. As shown in Figs. 4 and 6 the rear hinge 2| of the plate 5 is a conventional hinge construction, and generally comprises a pin adapted to pass through the bores of the aligned outer sleeves 22 and central sleeve 23 of the rear edge of the flexible closure 4. Hence, the plate 5, as depicted in Fig. 6, is able freely to swing into a vertical position relative to the base of receptacle I provided the lugs I, I are pulled 'out of engagement with notches l3", M" (Fig. 5).

In accordance with our invention we give the plate 5 a double function. It acts an an actuator, or driver, element for the flexible closure 4. Secondly, it serves as the carrier of a mirror, or reflector, 5, The latter may be a glass mirror. or a highly polished metal plate, setinto a rectangular recess in the upper face of plate 5 (Figs. 6 and 7). On the other hand the entire upper face of plate 5 may be highly polished so that it acts as a mirror, Obviously, the vanity case is rendered of greater utility when it is possible to employ the plate 5 as a mirror without having to retract the flexible closure more than the short distance required to disengage lugs I, I from the notches l3" and Id".

The flexible closure 4 is constructed in a simple and readily-assembled manner. It consists of a plurality of adjacent bars mounted in fixed relation upon a common flexible carrier. Fig, '8 shows the construction of a single bar element 30. Each of the plurality of bars is constructed exactly the same as bar 30. Each bar is elongated with a generally square cross-section. The ends of each bar are denoted by numerals 3| and 32. They are formed by removing the material so as to provide thin projections of the bar body.

By providing a considerable number of 'bars 30 in lateral position across a common flexible carrier 33, it is possible to provide a closure member capable of riding between the opposed tracks or grooves of the casings 2 and 3. Preferably we use a cloth strip as carrier 33. The cloth may be replaced by any trong textile or fabric material to which the lateral bars 30 are readily secured. The width of carrier strip, or sheet, '33 is equal to the distance between the outer edges; of ends 3| and 32. In Fig. 8 we have shown a section, or segment, of the carrier 33 upon which,

is mounted a bar 33. The ends 3| and 32 of each bar 30, and the portions of carrier 33 secured to ends 3| and 32, are located within the respective opposed tracks or grooves l5 and I6 of the vanity case.

Obviously the bars 30 may be secured to the carrier 33 in any suitable manner. For example, any suitable adhesive or cement may be em-' of design, or it may have precisely the'same oonfiguration. It is to be clearly understood that the means for afilxing the central hinge sleeve 23 (Figs. 4 and '7) to the rear bar 30 may be of any suitable form. For example, sleeve .23 mayhave a rearward integral strip 40 which sandwiches the rear edge of carrier strip 33 between it and an upper strip 4| Indeed, the upper lateral strip may be one of the bars 30. The spaced screws 42 are employed to fix the carrier end to the lateral strips 40 and 4|. Any suitable device may be used to provide a secure coupling between the hinge 2| and the lower end of carrier strip 33.

In operation, the opposed reduced ends 3| and 32 and the subjacent carrier portions snugly fit in the respective grooves l5 and it along the top, rear and bottom of the case. Hence, the flexible closure can be retracted, or pushed forward, in response to forward or rearward motion of plate 5. In closed position (Figs. 3, 4) the lugs I, 'l are engaged in notches l3", l4. Hence, the closure 4 prevents the cover 8 from rising, and the mirror 6 cannot be seen. By pulling the plate 5 forward enough to disengage the lugs I, I, the plate 5 may be swung downward (Figs. 2, 5) without opening cover 8. In other words, the user of the vanity case may wish to use the mirror 6, but not use the powder compartment.

Now, if the cover 8 is to be opened to get at the interior of the powder box, then the plate 5 is pulled forwardly (and the gripping piece 20 may be employed) until the flexible closure 4 rides rearwardly to the position shown in Fig. 6. Here, the spring 9 automatically causes cover 8 to open thereby exposing the contents of box I. The plate 5 hangs freely, and the hinge 2i is at the forward end of the casings 2 and 3. The closure 4 is now positioned almost entirely under the receptacle I, with the forward portion thereof around the rear of the receptacle. To close the vanity case, it is only necessary to push the plate rearwardly. The closure 4 is now caused to ride back to its normal position as shown in Fig. 2. During this return trip the forward bar 30' causes the cover 8 to move downwards, and the convex curvature of cover 8 aids the closure carrier 33 in permitting easy riding of the latter over the upper face of cover 8.

What we claim is:

1. In a vanity case, a powder receptacle, a slidable flexible cover for the case, a combined mirtor and actuator plate pivoted at its inner end to the cover, said plate being provided with a pair of opposed projections at the free end thereof, and means for retaining solely said projections to maintain said plate against the lower face of the receptacle.

2. In combination with a receptacle casing, opposed side walls secured to Opposed side faces of the casing to provide upper and lower grooves, a. biased cover for the receptacle, a flexible closure having its edges positioned in said tracks for sliding motion between the upper and lower grooves, a rigid plate pivotally coupled to the inner end of the closure for actuating the latter, the improvement comprising said plate being free of said side walls for substantially the entire length thereof and means common to the free ends of said plate and to said side walls for maintaining said plate against the lower face of the receptacle.

3. In a device as defined in claim 2, said last means comprising opposed projections at the free end adapted to be located in said lower grooves as a stop.

4. In a vanity case comprising a compartment and a slidable closure, a mirror hinged to said closure at one end thereof, said mirror being constructed and arranged whereby the mirror is independently movable in an arc of substantially degrees to viewing position with said closure in compartment-closing position.

5. In a vanity case as defined in claim 4, said mirror being adapted to pull said closure into compartment-opening position, and said mirror hinge being located at the front end of the vanity case in the latter position.

6. In combination with a powder receptacle having a biased cover, opposed side walls secured to the receptacle walls, a roll-top closure slidable over the cover and under the receptacle, a rigid mirror plate hinged to the closure at the inner end thereof and acting to actuate the roll-top closure, said plate being free of said side Walls for substantially the entire length thereof, said plate hanging at right angles to the receptacle bottom after said roll-top closure is slid under the receptacle.

7. In a vanity case provided with a slidable flexible closure, a mirror pivotally coupled thereto at its inner end for independent swinging into viewing position, a pair of opposed projections at the free end of the mirror, said case being provided with complementary recesses for receiving said projections thereby to provide sole support for the mirror when in non-viewing position, said projections being adapted for a, slight displacement to release said mirror whereby the latter is enabled to swing at its pivot.

BERNARD WESSON. NATHAN KUPIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 970,832 Seel et al Sept. 20,.1910 1,989,590 Florman Jan. 29, 1935 2,000,162 Buscham May 7, 1935 2,035,830 Parkin Mar. 31, 1936 2,099,122 Kreisler Nov. 16, 1937 2,107,997 Horsley Feb. 8, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 144,204 Australia Jan. 10, 1936 479,593 Great Britain Feb. 8, 1938 

